install windows 7 on the partitioned hdd having windows 8 pre installed.

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atccscc

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Jul 30, 2013
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I have a new Dell inspiron 15R with partitions of 500 (C)+350(D)+150(E) GB. it has windows 8 OS in C. Will there be any problem if I install Windows 7 Ultimate in D or E. Alternatively, is there any way I can make image of HDD in my old laptop and transfer into D or E so that I don't have to re install my professional soft wares and continue to use as on old 32 bit system with Windows 7 Ultimate OS.
 
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dodger46
Very little detail on your BIOS in the Dell Manual. From what you said above you can choose to have UEFI or Legacy BIOS. Try installing W7 on your partition, you'll probably need to enter BIOS to change your Boot order to DVD 1st. (F2 at Power on) If you experience problems installing, re-enter BIOS and select Legacy BIOS, though I suspect that's selected already...
To deactivate W7 on your old machine
'Start' and type CMD
Right click Command Prompt and choose 'Run as administrator'
type slmgr.vbs -upk then Enter
Wait while Windows is deactivated, you should get a pop-up to that effect.
When you try to activate Windows in your new installation you will probably have to phone M'soft to complete. Be prepared to enter lots of...
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dodger46

dodger46

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Nov 19, 2011
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You should be able to install W7 on D, best way to find out is to try it! Make sure you have a Recovery Partition on the Dell before you try, I would create a system image of your Dell C drive if you have the means, and also create a Recovery disk/drive as a matter of course in case of problems at any time. As for transferring a System Image of your old machine I guess it would be possible but fraught with danger as the two systems will be so different it will be unlikely to run smoothly if at all. It may be possible with the use of Sysprep tool, see
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd744512(v=ws.10).aspx
Meanwhile having transferred a sysprep-ed image to another partition there will be the problem of dual booting.
Personally I would just load your Software on to the new laptop, once you've opened your desktop all is much the same as 7 except the lack of Start button, but you'll soon get used to being without it...
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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Meanwhile I have an 'Experimental' laptop running W8, I'll try loading W7 on a partition to see what happens, only difference is it's Home Premium 32 bit and W8 is 32 bit....and your new Dell probably has UEFI instead of BIOS, if this works I'll let you know.
Edit
Worked fine, dual boots from either OS, smooth as silk. Only problem I foresee you may have to adopt Legacy BIOS instead of UEFI
 
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atccscc

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Jul 30, 2013
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THANKS SIR: I am a user and don't have much knowledge about the system aspects. Therefore please pardon me if my query appears trivial.
1. I have read in some thread that W7 should be installed before W8 due to some variation in file system. Is it necessary? If so, then I am willing to go to the extent of changing HDD , pre install W7 and then W8. Will the original key of W8 allow me to use W8 on the new HDD.
2. I have no knowledge of UEFI / Legacy BIOS. How will this affect the working. I understand that it is related to the security of the system. Any way to check UEFI/BIOS arrangement?
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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It would be difficult to re-install Windows 8 on a new drive as you don't have an Installation disk. Dell will provide you with Recovery disks, but that's not the same. There are no download sites for W8 OEM. True, I've heard that it is best to install another OS before you install 8, but my experiment proves that it can be done the other way round. Perhaps it only applies to dual boot with XP. Post the exact model number of your Dell and I'll check your Manual to see what BIOS or Setup arrangements you have. If you decide to use your 7 Ultimate installation, you'll have to de-activate Windows on your old machine before you re-install it on your new one, otherwise M'soft will think you are running it on two machines at once...
 
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atccscc

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Jul 30, 2013
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The laptop DELL INSPIRON 15R5521 was bought in March 2013 . However about a month ago it developed some problem and it failed to initialize. Under warranty DELL support has now changed the motherboard and HDD wherein they have re installed W8. I got the disc partitioned before the W8 was installed. I was not aware of the requirement to pre installing W7. With the change of motherboard the InsdelH20 Setup Utiltiy now reads product name as 3521 instead of 5521 with BIOS version A05. Some other items in the Utility that may help you are: SECURITY: Model name: <Please select one model name>
BOOT: Legacy Boot: <blank>, UEFI Boot: <Blank>, Secure Boot: <Disabled>, Load Legacy Boot option Rom : <Enabled>, Boot List Option: <legacy>
I hope this helps . Thanks and regards
 
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dodger46

dodger46

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Nov 19, 2011
4,837
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24,960
Very little detail on your BIOS in the Dell Manual. From what you said above you can choose to have UEFI or Legacy BIOS. Try installing W7 on your partition, you'll probably need to enter BIOS to change your Boot order to DVD 1st. (F2 at Power on) If you experience problems installing, re-enter BIOS and select Legacy BIOS, though I suspect that's selected already...
To deactivate W7 on your old machine
'Start' and type CMD
Right click Command Prompt and choose 'Run as administrator'
type slmgr.vbs -upk then Enter
Wait while Windows is deactivated, you should get a pop-up to that effect.
When you try to activate Windows in your new installation you will probably have to phone M'soft to complete. Be prepared to enter lots of numbers on your telephone keypad and then on your PC! Best use loudspeaker...
 
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atccscc

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Jul 30, 2013
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10,510


Shall try W7 installation in a day or so and get back to you with results soon thereafter.
Thanks again.

Aug 8, 2013:
Finally I got the opportunity to work with W7 and am glad to inform that it has been successfully and it works. I very much appreciate the guidance.
Thanks for suggestions.
 
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